Asian Studies

Values and Cultural Style of China 1
While the Greeks had Achilles and heroes with swords and shiny armors, the Chinese had Confucius, a man full of wisdom and words that greatly influenced their acts and way of thinking (Keightley, pp 20-21). While the heroic stories of Greeks renowned men spoke of blood and killings, the Chineses legendary people spoke of morality (Keightley, pp 19-20). The mentioned comparisons, as what I grasped in the reflections of Keightley, suggested that the two civilizations are morally, philosophically, and wholly different from each other even if they have somewhat similar era of emerging into a social group of people. What could have been the cause of this diversity I think that should be the question here but since it is too broad and too complex to answer that question in just a couple of words, and limited resources, the author instead made it clear through a step by step respond by digging first into the Chinese community.

To address the main question, we must first take into consideration the factors that entirely made the values and cultural style of China different from those of the Near East and of Ancient Greece. Since only man can decide which kind of values he will choose to instill in himself, the following are only factors that could somehow influence his way of choosing and thinking. What better way to show such distinct values than to inculcate them in their cultural style, making values and cultural style inseparable in this reflection.

To start off, lets first take a look into their respective geographical location. While China boasts of its vast well-watered farmlands, plateaus, and sceneries, Greeks areas, being in the Nile Valley, do not typically experience the same abundance and same food production than those living in China.  (Keightley pp 48). People in Greece naturally experience harshness and uncertainty in their environment (Keightley, pp 48 ), which greatly affect their way of living.

Values and Cultural Style of China 2
With such differences in their environment come differences in their lifestyle and trading also. Naturally, Chinese people no need to invite a lot of businessmen to introduce products or food to their country since they can produce food for themselves. However, in ancient Greece and ancient Near East, the scenario was opposite. Due to the entrance of merchants from different countries, new cultures were also introduced to ancient Greece and Near East. It was, in one way or another, a form of colonization to ancient Greece and ancient Near East. With the entrance of foreign merchants, their inherited cultural values and style were marred also. The values and cultural style of the ancient in the Near East and ancient Greece can be likened to a blank compact disk. It was still blank and clear until something is recorded into it and made it livelier, complete, structured, making it deviant to their natural inborn values. Such transformations were brought about by the in and out of the influential merchants. However it is not at all times that writing into compact disks is successful. Sometimes the computer cannot complete the process due to certain factors. It could be that the computer does not have the software that can read the data to be transferred to the compact disk or if could be that the process is cancelled thus, making the writing unsuccessful. This is the scenario for the Chinese. Not too many foreigners were able to influence and write or put in new cultures to their land thus making the process unsuccessful. This could be the reason that their original cultural style was never totally changed.

Secondly, ancient paintings show that Greeks are more on individualism while Chinese paintings show that they are more on socialism. Their attitude on being with groups could be traced back to their environment and way of living. They are more laid back and more on agricultural reproduction. They are not much into foreign products and styles. Let us move to the
                           
Values and Cultural Style of China 3
present. We have for example the presence of the Great Wall of China, which is one of the Seven Wonders of the World. The said wonder was a work of billions of Chinese who used their bare hands to protect them from foes or colonizers. It was also in this Great Wall where billions of Chinese were buried during the time that it was built. They have unity and oneness. Meanwhile in ancient Greece or in Rome we can feast our eyes on their renowned amphitheatres or statues of their gods and goddesses. Given that art is the expression of our souls, then their statues would mean more than what the naked eyes see. The figures itself symbolizes individual power and individual strength. Their distinctive characters are also contributors to their cultural style and values. Since Chinese people are more into groups, one cannot decide alone. The decision is on the majority. I think it is in this aspect that explains why Chinese are not so flexible in changes.

The characteristic of the Chinese can be compared to a group of birds on flight. They birds have a V formation. They have this leader in front that remarkably fills in the distinct, pointed shape of V and leads the flock. If the leader falls, then the other nearest bird on the right automatically takes over the lost leader. Even in businesses, whether it may be small or big ventures, as long as it is Chinese governed, we can see that they decide, work, and execute plans with the knowledge of everybody and with respect. I use the term characteristic since it is already their attitude since time immemorial to be like that to be with the group. They have close family ties just like the rest of the Asians. Maybe because they are more peopled, as Keightley put it, as compared to the other civilizations in the ancient Near East or ancient Greece.

It is indeed true in the reflections of Keightley that the enumerated possible causes of the distinctive values and cultural style of Chinese from that of the ancient Near East and ancient Greece are only speculations. They are only contributors to the main cause. They are only

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influences. There is no evidence yet that pinpoints how the Chinese or the other civilizations as well acquire their values. Historians only interpret the remains, artifacts, and facts that researchers and archaeologists dig up. They give thoughtful interpretation in the drawings and carvings shown in ancient writings or structures. Not until we can find the main core on how we have different characters and values can we conclude and answer on why the values and cultural style of China differed from those of Near East and the ancient Greece. Even in China, whether it may be rural or urban has differences in their cultural style and values. Our knowledge is only to the extent to what our eyes and tools can see and read that may give us the activities of our ancestors.
To sum it all up, there is this is what we call skin deep. What we see in ancient carvings and drawings are only expressions of their being. What gave them the idea to express this and that is something else already. It is already something that we maybe cannot see or comprehend. It has something to do with our distinct, unique characters and values. Is it not that when you see somebody of your own race and blood, you have this certain jump of unexplainable feelings that you connect with each other even if youve never seen that person before Maybe, the answer runs in the blood.